Frantz convicted of murder

Friday

A woman has been found guilty of first-degree murder for the shooting death of her estranged husband last year in downtown Leavenworth.

A woman has been found guilty of first-degree murder for the shooting death of her estranged husband last year in downtown Leavenworth.

Jurors deliberated for about three hours before returning a guilty verdict in the trial of Barbara M. Frantz, according to County Attorney Todd Thompson.

Frantz, 52, Kansas City, Kansas, was charged with first-degree murder after her husband, Gary, was shot six times Jan. 27, 2017, in a parking lot outside of the Stove Factory Lofts.

The jury returned the guilty verdict Friday afternoon following a two-week trial.

Before beginning their deliberations, jurors heard the closing arguments of prosecuting and defense attorneys.

Assistant County Attorney Katie Devlin told jurors that the victim had identified his wife as the shooter to a police officer and other witnesses before he died.

"In his last words, Gary told us who shot him," Devlin said.

In her closing argument, defense attorney Stacey Schlimmer argued the victim did not say that he saw his wife at the time of the shooting.

"We don't know what Gary Frantz's statement meant," Schlimmer said.

Schlimmer also argued that the victim initially said "my boy" when a police officer asked him about the shooter.

Defense attorneys argued the victim had been shot by his son.

Schlimmer also noted during her closing argument that many witnesses had described the shooter as a male immediately after the shooting.

Devlin said Frantz matched descriptions provided by the witnesses except for being a male.

"Gender isn't always easily determined," Devlin said.

Devlin said the Kansas Bureau of Investigation had determined that empty shell casings found at the scene of the shooting and one found in a box in the defendant's apartment had been fired by the same gun.

Devlin argued that Frantz's actions showed premeditation because the defendant had driven to where the victim lived.

"The defendant drove to Gary's home and waited in his parking lot," Devlin said.

During her closing argument, Schlimmer criticized the investigation that was conducted by the Leavenworth Police Department after the shooting.

"They made a lot of mistakes here," she said.

Schlimmer said there had been a rush to judgement and her client "does not deserve to be another victim."

Devlin said the defense wanted jurors to focus on only some of the details of the case.

"They don't want you to look at all of the details," she said.

Frantz has remained in custody at the Leavenworth County Jail while the case has been pending.

District Judge Michael Gibbens has set the next hearing in the case for July 25. A hearing for post-trial motions as well as sentencing may be scheduled at that time.

Frantz faces a possible life sentence with a minimum of 25 years, according to Thompson.

Thompson said in a news release that "we are relieved to have this case over. We’re told this was the longest jury trial to date in Leavenworth County, at least the longest anyone can recall in the last 50 years."

Thompson said he appreciated "the patience and diligence of the jury. They were here at times for 12 hours listening to evidence."

Twitter: @LVTNewsJohnR

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